Russia sees need for more urgency on climate deal –EU

EU climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard

Russia sees need for more urgency on climate deal –EU

EU climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, says Russia recognises that concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions need to be agreed at climate talks in South Africa next month before a globally binding climate deal can emerge by 2015.

Negotiators from around the world are due to meet in Durban at the end of this month to try to work on a new deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Low expectations

Expectations are low that a binding deal will emerge, as rifts between countries have stifled progress.

A group of small island states accused countries such as Russia and Japan on Thursday of trying to delay a new international agreement until 2018 or 2020.

The EU climate commissioner told reporters that "Russia shares our view that we should go for a roadmap and have timetables in it. There might be some differences over timing (for a global deal) but the mindset is changing that we have to move into something new."

The roadmap

Hedegaard said the "roadmap" would include a set of standardised actions towards a global deal, perhaps similar to a proposal by Australia and Norway last month.

Australia and Norway urged major economies to strengthen steps to curb emissions and proposed a system that would be used in comparing and verifying what others were doing.

Hedegaard said once this plan of action has been agreed, detailed work will take place to try to get a binding deal in place after 2014.

She said "We have three years from now to put the flesh and blood on this. We know what should be done so 2015 after an IPCC (UN backed scientific) review will be time enough."

Oppositions

Japan, Russia and Canada have been opposed to extending the Kyoto Protocol into a second phase after 2012.

However, the EU has said it would back a second Kyoto commitment period if other big emitters, like the US and China, agree to more ambitious emissions cut targets.

Hedegaard said "Without a roadmap, there will be no second commitment period."

NAN/Adekusibe/Williams